Just hours after Top Rank Boxing announced a news conference to formally kick off the unification battle between its two fighters, Nonito Donaire Jr. and Guillermo Rigondeaux, Donaire Jr. through his Twitter and Facebook accounts issued a statement that he will not be making the trip to New York for the said event.

“I want you guys to hear it from me first. I am NOT going to NYC for the presser this Thursday because Rigondeaux is backing off his agreement to VADA drug testing. Rigondeaux’s team verbally agreed to VADA testing both online and in negotiations. But now that the contract to start testing is in front of them, they are finding every excuse not to sign and delay the start of the testing,” Donaire Jr. stated.

Both teams had previously stated that they will submit their fighters to voluntary, random testing under the auspices of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association or VADA group.

VADA is an independent organization founded to offer and promote effective anti-doping programs in boxing and mixed martial arts. Donaire Jr. is currently undergoing year round random drug testing by the group, the only boxer to do so.

Donaire Jr. has verbalized that Rigondeaux be subjected to the same VADA testing he is enrolled at in light of recent news and speculations of the rampant use of Performance Enhancing Drugs or PED’s in boxing.

“I have not signed my fight contract yet to fight him so I have no obligation to fight only him. It disappoints me that top fighters these days run from everything that will hold professional boxing integrity to its highest standard,” added Donaire Jr. in his statements.

The boxer will talk to his manager Cameron Dunkin and will explore other options for his scheduled April fight.